Sean Walsh, PhD

I am an experienced psychologist with training in a wide variety of therapeutic modalities and approaches, which allows me to tailor services to the needs of each person. My approach is based on empathic attunement, fostering self-awareness, and using empirically supported approaches for clients to gain a stronger understanding of how their past experiences are influencing life now, both in terms of specific symptoms and personal/professional identity. I am committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings openly while also being challenged to engage in new behaviors or ways of viewing the self.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Toledo where I was able to learn psychotherapeutic techniques from multiple types of theoretical orientations (Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Humanistic Psychology), which I find to be especially important to long term change and living life in line with ones values in addition to provide more immediate relief from stress, anxiety, and depression. I believe the goal of healing goes beyond symptom reduction but to actually changing the internal occurring within the mind, which may often be outside of awareness or unconscious, so the core facet of any symptoms or interpersonal problems are healed in a way that leads to not needing to rely on coping skills. One way to view this would be to consider a new version of the self or a "new me" forming through the work of therapy with the goal of living life more in line with values, having fulfilling relationships, and having a stronger awareness of where emotional reactions come from in particular in reaction to significant others.

In addition to providing clinical services, I also teach doctoral students in clinical psychology with a focus on a variety of topics, such as psychological theory/approaches to therapy, foundational skills with conducting therapy, psychological assessment/testing, and forensic psychology. I also supervise research projects in these domains and have conducted research with the Rorschach Inkblot Test in the past. I have learned about a wide range of psychological assessments, including how assessments can help treatment be as effective as possible. Before obtaining my Ph.D., I earned a Master's degree in clinical psychology from Madonna University where I focused on learning how to use a wide range of psychodynamic interventions.